Hitmen's Teddy Bear Toss returns to the Saddledome on Saturday
When the Calgary Hitmen take to the ice on Saturday afternoon against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, more will be on the line than just the final score.
For the first time in 734 days, the Teddy Bear Toss is back.
Fans haven't been able to throw their bears in the air since then because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team's 2019-20 season was cancelled in March.
Then, last year, WHL teams didn't play in front of fans.
For players like Riley Fiddler-Schultz, the Teddy Bear Toss is a very special game. He says he's had it circled on his calendar for a while/
"It's one that we look forward to. Playing in front of a sold-out Saddledome and getting all the hype around the game and all the energy in the building when we start," the 19-year-old forward said.
"Everyone is always so excited and (there's) a lot of 'oohing' and 'aahing' before the first goal every time there's a play at the net.
"It's obviously a very special game for us and for the city of Calgary as well."
SCORING THE TEDDY BEAR GOAL
Scoring the teddy bear goal is something every player on the Hitmen dreams of.
Sean Tschigerl says if he's lucky enough to score the goal, he'll remember it for the rest of his life.
"I think it would kind of give you a really surreal feeling and what it is to be a pro player with all the cheering," the 18 year old forward said.
"I mean the Teddy Bears raining down on you… that in itself is a pretty good experience.
"That's a goal you'll remember for the rest of your life and, obviously, that's a goal everyone wants to score."
NEED FOR FANS AND COMMUNITY TO STEP UP
The game itself is special, but what's every more important is what happens after.
The teddy bears will be donated to 50 local agencies this holiday season, including the Alberta Children's Hospital, The Calgary Food Bank and Siksika Nation.
This year, there's a need for 20,000 stuffed animals and the Hitmen are calling on fans and the community to step up and help meet those needs.
For 20-year-old forward Cael Zimmerman, the visit to the Alberta Children's Hospital is what it's all about.
"Probably the most special part of it all is when we get to go to the Children's Hospital and deliver those teddy bears," Zimmerman said.
"That's something I'll never forget. You're kind of like the makeshift Santa for the day, I guess, bringing in all the teddy bears… and it was a lot of fun."
Fans are asked to bring new or gently-used small or medium-sized stuffed toys to toss onto to the ice when the Hitmen score their first goal against the Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.